The Milwaukee Bucks are sitting at 11-17, and there’s no sugarcoating it - this season has been rough. For a franchise that built its identity around winning with Giannis Antetokounmpo at the center of it all, this start raises more than just eyebrows.
It raises questions. Big ones.
And when the Bucks struggle, the Giannis rumors start swirling. That’s been the pattern for nearly a decade now.
Any sign of regression - whether it’s a playoff flameout or a sluggish start like this one - and the whispers begin: *Is Giannis thinking about leaving? *
This season, those whispers have turned into full-blown speculation. Even before opening night, there were reports suggesting Giannis might be eyeing a move to a team better positioned to chase a title. And now, with the Bucks looking like a team still searching for its identity, those rumors have only intensified.
But here’s the thing - the Bucks haven’t given any indication that they’re ready to entertain the idea of trading their franchise cornerstone. Quite the opposite. Every move, every signal from the front office points toward doubling down and trying to build a better roster around Giannis, not without him.
Still, the optics haven’t helped. When the Bucks traded away Khris Middleton - Giannis’ longtime running mate and close friend - it felt like the final piece of that 2021 championship core was being dismantled.
Outside of Bobby Portis, that title team is gone. And for fans, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
For Giannis? It could be even tougher.
Middleton’s departure hit differently. He wasn’t just a solid wing or a three-time All-Star - he was the guy who hit clutch shots, who knew where Giannis wanted the ball, who understood the rhythm of the team like few others. So when he was moved to Washington, many believed it might be the domino that finally pushed Giannis to request a trade.
That hasn’t happened - at least not officially. But the Bucks’ faithful aren’t waiting around. They’re already looking for solutions, and one idea is gaining traction: bring Middleton back.
If the Wizards decide to buy Middleton out - and that’s still a big if - Milwaukee fans are ready to welcome him home with open arms. Social media has lit up with calls to reunite the former duo, hoping that a familiar face might be enough to steady the ship and quiet the noise surrounding Giannis’ future.
Middleton’s not the same player he was during Milwaukee’s title run. Injuries have taken a toll, and his numbers this season - 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists on 49% from the field, 35% from deep, and 73% from the line - reflect that.
But even in a reduced role, his presence could matter. A lot.
For a Bucks team that’s clearly lacking wing depth and veteran leadership, Middleton could offer both. He knows the system.
He knows Giannis. And maybe, just maybe, he could help stabilize a team that’s teetering on the edge of a lost season.
Milwaukee isn’t giving up. Not yet.
And if there’s a path to bringing back a trusted piece of their championship DNA, it’s one the front office and fans alike might be wise to explore. Because if the Bucks want to keep Giannis in Milwaukee - and make no mistake, that’s priority No. 1 - then every move from here on out needs to be about building trust, chemistry, and a roster that can compete.
And sometimes, that means looking backward to move forward.